Laser printers and copiers are a health risk because discarded image drums
are carcinogenic, says Japanese imaging company Fuji. The damage is done by the
2,4,7-trinitro-9-fluorenone coating used on some drums, but safer coatings
available up to now do not print as clearly, Fuji says. Now the company has come
up with a metal drum coated with resin binder and conductive material made by
combining phthalocyanine and an organic compound with alkoxy, alkyl and aryl
groups, oxidised by potassium permanganate in a chloroform solvent (GB 2343523).
Fuji says the new photoconductor is not carcinogenic.
Technology
Cleaner images
By Barry Fox
17 March 2001
